Henry h



(No Model.)

H. H. SGHUMANN.

LADDER.

No. 322,980. Patented July 28,1885.

* NHE TATES HENRY H. SOHUMANN, OF TROY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONETHIRD TO CHARLES MUTH, OF SAME PLACE.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,980, dated July 28,1885.-

Application filed May 22, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. SOHUMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to sectional ladders, the object being to provide adevice of this character which may be'readily and easily converted intoa step-ladder, and to efficiently serve as both a ladder andstep-ladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide means, which will, whenthe ladder is convertedinto a step-ladder, hold the sections againstslipping or spreading.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa ladder constructed inaccordance with 2 5 my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showingthe same converted into a step-ladder,

and Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line was of 1. Fig. 4 is asection on line i y of Fig. 1. 0 In the accompanying drawings, in whichlike letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures, A represents the ladder, which consists of a series ofsections, B O D. The upper or top section, B, is composed of the twoside pieces, a, connected by the horizontal parallel bars b, which formthe rungs. The side pieces, a, of the top section, 13, have their endsout oli to a V shape, as shown, and for the purpose which will be morefully explained. The section 0 is composed of the sides, connected byrungs 0, each of said sides being composed of two pieces or strips, andbetween said pieces or strips, near the upper and lower ends thereof,are secured blocks E F, the blocks E, which are located near the upperend of the section, having V- shaped recesses at their upper ends, andthe blocks F,which are located near the lower end of the ladder,havingV-shaped recesses at their 5o lower ends. The section D is composed oftwo (N0 model.)

sides, each of which sides is composed of two pieces, between the upperends of which are secured strips G, having V-shaped upper ends, andprojecting beyond the upper end of said section. Inasmuch as thissection is the last or lower one in the present case, the piecescomposing the sides of the same are secured together at their lowerends; but it will be seen that where another section is employed that asection similar to that just described, but having projecting strips atits lower end, would be employed.

In putting the ladder together the lower ends of the sides of the topsection, B, fit in the'V-shaped recesses of the block E in the section0, and are secured in place by transverse pins d, as shown. The strips Gfit the recesses in the lower ends of blocks F, and are secured in placeby pins.

To use the ladder as a step-ladder two sections are employed, and thepins for holding the sections together are removed to allowthe sectionsto be separated. The sections are then placed together, so that theupper ends of the sides of section 0 will fit between the sides ofsection D, and the sections are held together by pins passing throughthe openings in the upper ends of the section.

The sides of the lower section of the ladder may be provided withdownwardly extending metal plates or tongues A", which are adapted tofit in slots or recessesin the upper ends of extensions A by whicharrangement the ladder may be leveled when on uneven ground, the saidplates or tongues being provided with a series of openings adapted to beengaged by a pin, a working in openings in the extension-piece. Acollar, A, is also employed to hold the sections when together, as shownin Fig. l.

It will be seen that, if desired, the metal tongues might be employed atall the sections, and serve as a means for connecting the same, themetal collars serving to hold the sections rigid. 5

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. Aladderconsisting of aseries of sections detachably secured together, one ofsaid sections having projecting strips to which the IOC other section isadapted to be secured, sub- A the bands or collars A, and the strip Astantially as set forth. as set forth.

2. A ladder consisting of a series of sections, In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my one of said sections having blocks securedbeown I have hereto aflixed my signature in 5 tween the strips composingits sides, said presence of two witnesses.

blocks having V-shaped recesses and the other i T section having stripshaving V- shaped upper HENRY SGHUMANL' ends projecting from between thestrips com- Witnesses:

posing its sides, as set forth. CHARLES MUTE,

1o 3. A ladder having the projecting tongues ELMER PEARSALL.

